Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) have kick-started the Air-Land Fresh Lane.

The HKIA Air-Land Fresh Lane is a dedicated logistics corridor launched by HKIA in partnership with Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department and Mainland China authorities, designed to streamline the transshipment of fresh and perishable goods between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The Guangdong and Hong Kong governments collaborated with HKIA to launch a trial service of the Air-Land Fresh Lane in April this year.

By streamlining transshipment clearance procedures, a dedicated channel has been created for importing chilled aquatic products, live seafood, and fruits from overseas to the GBA through HKIA, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Live and chilled goods can be delivered to Zhuhai for Mainland's customs clearance and enter the GBA in as quickly as three hours after they arrive at Hong Kong by air.

 [Source: Hong Kong International Airport]

Vivian Cheung, CEO of AAHK, said, "AAHK has committed to enhancing connectivity with the GBA, to further extend HKIA's efficient and premium cargo services to the region through novel intermodal cargo transshipments."

"The Air-Land Fresh Lane expands the catchment area of HKIA  and helps Hong Kong’s trade and logistics industries in seizing new business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and the Mainland, further strengthening HKIA's leading position in the air cargo industry," she added.

Chan Tsz-tat, commissioner of Customs and Excise, noted that by overcoming difficulties and resolving problems one by one, C&ED was able to align relevant regulations between Hong Kong and the Mainland, developing a new regulatory model to streamline the fresh food transshipment clearance. "Following the full launch of the Air-Land Fresh Lane, C&ED would continue to deepen its co-operation with the Mainland to jointly promote the economic development of the Greater Bay Area."

HKIA has been named the busiest cargo airport in the world for the 14th time since 2010. Hong Kong International Airport is also the world's first airport to attain the full suite of IATA CEIV certifications, including the IATA CEIV Fresh Certification, which are industry-wide accreditations for special cargo handling.

Additionally, HKIA has the largest fleet of cool dollies among all airports in Asia, while cargo terminals in HKIA are equipped with advanced cold chain facilities, ensuring the freshness and safety of live and chilled goods during transportation.

Aside from AAHK's Cheung, Chan Tsz-tat, commissioner of Customs and Excise; Wang Baoren, committee member of the Communist Party of China of Gongbei Customs District of People Republic of China; Meng Xiaoyuan, deputy director-general of the Police Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Donald Ng, director of Food and Environmental Hygiene and Frankie Yick, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for the Transport functional constituency officiated the ceremony.

Over 200 local and overseas partners in the air cargo and fresh traders field also attended the launch ceremony on Sept. 26.